Apple gets ready for iOS 7 shock

How would you react if you found a notice on your smartphone that an update to its software was available, and after you accepted it, the interface looked completely different? If you didn’t know this was coming, would you be shocked, maybe even upset?

That’s a very real possibility with the upcoming overhaul to Apple’s mobile operating system. iOS 7 will have a different interface, along with a slew of new features and tweaked ways of doing things. While techies and Apple fans know this is coming, a huge number of folks who own iPhones, iPads and iPod Touches and who do not obsessively track geek news are going to be taken by surprise.

Even if Apple accompanies the on-phone iOS update notification with detailed warnings that iOS 7 is more than just a software tweak, the clueless are likely to be freaked out. As a result, Apple has started training its support staff to handle what I’ll call iOSTSD (iOS Traumatic Stress Disorder).

Apple has started training its AppleCare technical support staff on the changes and feature-set of iOS 7, according to multiple AppleCare employees. These people say that training began today, and AppleCare employees are required to complete the iOS 7 training by the second week of September.

The second week of September is around the date that Apple will be holding its iPhone 5S, iPhone 5C, and iOS 7 media event, so it would make sense that Apple would want its support staff to be ready for questions about the new software. We do not believe that because AppleCare will be ready to support iOS 7 around September 10th, iOS 7 will actually be released to the public on or in the few days surrounding the event date. More likely, Apple expects questions about iOS 7 since it will be fully announced and demonstrated on that date. Apple typically releases major iOS updates the week following its formal announcement.

Apple will be doubling up on support staff, according to this article, training OS X techs to handle calls related to iOS 7 and having part-timers work full-time during the transition. Apple Retail stores also will have programs devoted to explaining the changes to iOS users in hopes of easing iOSTSD.

It’s also likely that many users who are aware of the changes will resist an upgrade initially. It doesn’t take much for the I-don’t-like-change crowd to put up a wall. I know people who still won’t upgrade to iOS 6 because they’ll lose the old Google-based Apple Maps (even though the much-improved Google Maps has long been available for free). iOS 7 will have these folks hunkering down, big-time.

If you’re an iOS user, do you plan to jump on the upgrade? Or will you hold off and wait? Let us know in the comments.

24 Responses

I’ll hold off and wait. iOS is pretty limited, but I don’t that much on my phone anymore anyway, and Apple’s point zero releases are often buggy. I’ll let JJ find the bugs and then upgrade with the point one release.

Im with you! I have a iPad mini I got in January, was sad that ios 6 was to me no major big improvement style wise from when I had, iOS 4.2.1 on a iPod 2g i owned years ago. I left iOS scene for years cause of pricing and I’m happy to be back now seeing this announced was just awesome!Plus it’s compatible with my device! I always wanted to see a iOS in the colorful style and this is it!! I have been watching this everyday, I want this to come out soon lol. Ok not to exited about auto update cause my mini has sometimes had issues with apps after they update, especially if it wasn’t for my device exactly like iPhone apps. otherwise come on update ! as soon as its public I’m installing it ^-^ !!

I’ll wait a few days to make sure that there are mo bugs in the software or in the delivery (Apple’s servers are going to be swamped)of the software. But I wont wait long. iOS is WAY overdue for an update.

I already upgraded thanks to my son who is a developer. The only real problems I’ve had with running beta have been with battery life. A couple of beta versions would drain the battery and a few hours and the phone would be too hot to touch without a case on it.

I hated the new interface with the first beta but the subsequent beta releases have really fixed the problems with the interface. You could tell a bunch of kids with 20/20 vision designed the first iteration and then some older folks demanded legibility over showing off the capabilities of a retina display. Now, I love it. It took no time to get used to the functionality, only some time for me to get used to the new appearance. After a trip to the far east and seeing the popularity of bright colors, I can understand why apple is making things more appealing to those cultures.

The change from iOS 6 to iOS 7 is not as large or as disruptive as the change from Windows 7 to Windows “Metro” was.

With iOS 7 the colors and flattening of icons are minor changes, but it still uses the same layout and methods used in iOS 6. But Windows 7 went from a standard windows-type interface to a completely different “Metro” interface that was designed for the multitouch Zune media player.

Another difference is that iOS 7 brings many welcome new features to the operating system, so even people who don’t like the new look will still want to upgrade to get those feature. But Windows 8 was an anti-feature… it took the Windows 7 interface and then pasted the Metro interface on top of it, adding an additional layer to go through to get to your Windows desktop applications.

I don’t like it. The pic on the left indicates to me that too many buttons look alike. I understand Apple needed to change with the times but maybe less of a change at once may have been appropriate for some users.

Well you don’t need to update, you can wait watch others use there ios 7, and judge that way. I never understood why people can’t accept change… this looks better so much better, in a sence I’m glad they didn’t vote if you wanted a new ios cause the ones who hate change would of ruined it for the rest of us… I’ve had ios when it was ios 3,4 and now after 2 years of no ios and a bad android testing phase I’m happily back and using ios 6 not bad though sad the style was not really altered… I’m happy for ios 7 ill be updating day 1. I had ios 6 in its early stage not many bugs and they work quick if they are any… so I’m not worrying. I end with this: Apple come on and bring on the new features, enhanced Siri and photo app, and all that wonderful color it’s about time !! We needed this!

I got my 4S the day it came out in October 2011, but made the unfortunate decision to go to Sprint then. The day I get out of contract, I’ll be at a Verizon store getting the new one. That’s when I’ll upgrade to iOS 7.

Going right for it! Despite some people’s opinions, I think the overhaul looks a lot sleeker than the bulky “realistic” design. The new features as well as new design sold me from the second I heard of the new iOS.

@ Astro – Did you know that a used iPhone is worth more if you have an AT&T model than a Verizon or Sprint model. For example, Gazelle will pay $215 for a used 4S 32GB unscratched from AT&T or $165 for the same phone from Verizon. Check it out here: http://www.gazelle.com

This makes perfect sense when you realize that most of the world runs on the GMS world standard which AT&T phones are in compliance with. Verizon and Sprint use the far less popular CDMA standard. What this means is that AT&T models have a great market value worldwide. (note: the newer LTE standard hasn’t reached much of our world as yet). The big market for used iPhones is international. Hence the price difference.

Normally, I would install within the hour of release of a new Apple iOS. Now I have a car, a MINI, with iPhone integration on the dash. I’ll probably wait for fallout from early adopters with MINI Connected or the similar BMW product.

I may wait for the jailbreak, which might give me more options with the car system. Jailbreaking might let me use a navigation app — and that would be cool.

I have iOS 7 already, and I must say that it actually isn’t ridiculously filled with bugs! The only things here at Beta 6, is that there are no unlocking sounds and a few other small things that could be fixed with the Gold Master update before Public release.

I’m using iOS 7 beta 6 and I’m surprisingly not having any bugs. There are a few old apps that are crashing (which is expected) most of the popular ones have no issues. Thats more with the apps themselves, not the OS.
kalki, there is a way to block calls in iOS7, theres an option “Block this caller” in the call details.